The opening of the Museum of Mississippi History and Mississippi
Civil Rights Museum promised to be a celebratory event long in the
making. Civil rights icon John Lewis, Jackson Mayor Chokwe Lumumba, Rep.
Bennie Thompson and Myrlie Evers-Williams — widow of slain civil rights
leader Medgar Evers — were slated to attend and commemorate a milestone
for a state that has long been haunted by its difficult racial history.

Then this week, just days before Saturday’s
opening, President Donald Trump accepted an invitation from the state’s
governor to attend.

By Friday, Lewis, Thompson, Lumumba and many
other noteworthy Mississippians and civil rights heroes all said they
would boycott the event.

They claimed the president did not support the
spirit of the new institution and would only distract from the
ceremony. Instead, some said they would visit the museum another time,
rather than share the moment with a man they consider to be a divisive
figure.

In response to a comment by Republican
Senatorial Candidate Roy Moore who recently said that the last time America was
great was during slavery," Senator James Sanders Jr. stated:

"Has this man lost grasp of his senses. I take personal offense, on
behalf of my great, great grandparents who were branded, raped, cut to pieces,
burned alive - and those were the kindest things done to them. The only
greatness about that time were those individuals, black and white, who gave
their lives fighting the American Civil War to put an end to the madness of
slavery. Their bodies littered the south in the name of stopping this
terrible crime. If this is your idea of how to make America great again, Mr.
Moore, I want no part of it. On behalf of my children and their children, and
their children's children, we will not go back to slavery, nor do we want
to see any other race enslaved."

ProPublica filed public-records requests with all 50 governors and 22 federal agencies. Here’s what it found.

by Leora Smith and Derek Kravitz

Amanda Farber still doesn’t know why Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan blocked
her from his Facebook group. A resident of Bethesda and full-time parent
and volunteer, Farber identifies as a Democrat but voted for the
Republican Hogan in 2014. Farber says she doesn’t post on her
representatives’ pages often. But earlier this year, she said she wrote
on the governor’s Facebook page, asking him to oppose the Trump
administration’s travel ban and health care proposal.

She never received a response. When she later returned to the page, she
noticed her comment had been deleted. She also noticed she had been
blocked from commenting. (She is still allowed to share the governor’s
posts and messages.)

Farber has repeatedly emailed and called Hogan’s office, asking them to
remove her from their blacklist. She remains blocked. According to
documents ProPublica obtained through an open-records request this
summer, hers is one of 494 accounts that Hogan blocks. Blocked accounts
include a schoolteacher who criticized the governor’s education policies
and a pastor who opposed the governor’s stance against accepting Syrian refugees. They even have their own Facebook group: Marylanders Blocked by Larry Hogan on Facebook.

The United States is gravely concerned by the recent escalation in violence and continued dire humanitarian conditions in Yemen. We urge all parties to immediately cease hostilities, reenergize political talks, and end the suffering of the Yemeni people. We condemn the Houthis’ brutal repression of political opponents in Sana’a, including the killing of their former ally Ali Abdullah Salih and his family members, as well as their reckless missile attacks against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and its partners are arming, advising, and enabling the Houthis’ violent actions, which accelerate the cycle of violence and human suffering, obstruct the flow of humanitarian aid, and disrupt efforts toward a political resolution.

We call on the Saudi-led coalition to facilitate the free flow of humanitarian aid and critical commercial goods, including fuel, through all Yemeni ports and to restore commercial flights through Sana’a Airport. The Iranian-backed Houthi militias must allow food, medicine, and fuel to be distributed throughout the areas they control, rather than diverted to sustain their military campaign against the Yemeni people. This humanitarian aid must be allowed to immediately reach all points of need.

The United States continues to believe that the devastating conflict in Yemen, and the suffering it causes, must be brought to an end through political negotiations in accordance with relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions. Successful political negotiations are necessary to ensure that Yemen can flourish, free of the malign influence of Iranian-backed militias operating outside the structures of the state.

Since Trump’s firing of James Comey in mid-May, the case for, the need for and the support for impeachment has become much stronger. Tom Steyer’s impeachment initiative has garnered over 2 million sign-ups so far, with a goal of 4 million. Journalist Ezra Klein recently published a thoughtful article putting forward “the case for normalizing impeachment” on Vox. A Public Policy Polling survey released in late October showed 49% of Americans support impeachment. And as early as today, a vote in the House on impeachment may be taken because of the leadership given by Texas Democrat Al Green.

The reason for all of these developments is, of course, the continuing series of duplicitous, lying, dangerous and deranged actions and tweets by the current occupant of the White House.

With Robert Mueller’s investigation of what happened in the 2016 elections yielding significant results, the metaphorical noose is, if not tightening around his neck, certainly coming into clear view for Trump, thank God. Without question, that investigation is an essential reason why support for impeachment is growing and why there is a realistic possibility, imho, that Trump could be gone from the White House before the November, 2018 elections.

But for this to happen, and for the odds to be reduced of a cornered Trump lashing out in even more destructive ways, like by trying to start a war with North Korea or Iran, for example, more is needed. There is something missing right now that was an important part of the reason why Richard Nixon was forced to resign in August of 1974.

Nixon’s resignation from office took place under different circumstances than our circumstances at present.

One difference is that Nixon was much more popular than Trump, winning his reelection campaign in 1972 by a landslide. Trump lost the popular vote.

There was one specific development that was the reason for Nixon’s demise: the Watergate burglary and all that was revealed after it about Nixon’s multi-faceted, organized, illegal campaign against the Democratic Party. For Trump, it’s a veritable multitude of one despicable thing after the other, far too many to count.

Another big difference, though, is the control of Congress in 2017 by Republicans. In 1974 it was controlled by Democrats, which meant that investigative committees set up by Congress back then were led by people serious about getting at the truth of what happened.

The apparent skill and tenacity of the Mueller investigation may mitigate that problem somewhat.

But there was something else back then that doesn’t yet exist today: a nationally-connected, grassroots impeachment movement.

The investment bank Morgan Stanley said
Thursday that it had severed its ties with former Rep. Harold Ford Jr., a
managing director at the bank, citing an accusation of misconduct.

Ford, who is also a political commentator on
MSNBC, forcefully denied the accusation and threatened to sue both the
bank and the woman who accused him, identified in his statement as a
journalist.

The Huffington Post,
which first reported the allegations, said the journalist accused Ford
of forcibly grabbing her one evening after a business meeting, and then
continuing to email her after the incident, leading her to ask that the
contacts stop. NBC News has not confirmed the details of the accusation
nor spoken to the accuser, who was not identified in the Huffington
Post.

This story was originally published by The Center for Public Integrity, a nonprofit, nonpartisan investigative news organization in Washington, D.C.

WASHINGTON — A last-minute infusion of cash is deluging the already unpredictable special Senate election in Alabama, and outside political groups backing both candidates — Republican Roy Moore and Democrat Doug Jones — are exploiting legal loopholes to hide their donors until after the Dec. 12 vote.

Some super PACs — groups that may accept and spend unlimited amounts of cash in elections — haven't publicly disclosed anything at all. Others have found creative ways around unveiling the backers fueling final pushes in the waning days of the race, when voters are bombarded with the most ads, mailers and phone calls.

"It's a failure of federal election law, and donors have reasons for wanting to stay hidden," said Brett Kappel, an election law specialist and partner at Akerman LLP. "We have an extremely controversial candidate that a lot of donors don't want to be associated with, and on the other side, people and companies may be worried about retribution if they publicly oppose Moore and he wins."

Sen. Dick Durbin and 12 cosponsors this week introduced new legislation
to counter the threat of terrorism posed by white supremacists and other
homegrown extremists. The Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act would
institutionalize the fight against domestic terror within federal law
enforcement agencies, a goal long sought by the SPLC. It comes a week
after SPLC President Richard Cohen testified on the subject before the
House Homeland Security Committee.

A group of racist “alt-right” activists have pulled together a new organization called Operation Homeland, with the stated goal of being professional organizers and activists for the white nationalist and neo-Nazi movement.

High-profile white supremacist Richard Spencer announced the group — part rebranding, part organizing effort — on Twitter over the weekend. On altright.com, Spencer described the group as an umbrella to “take activism to the next level.”

“Our purpose is to plan and carry out bold demonstrations, train and mentor young activists, and foster collaboration among Identitarians in America and around the world,” Spencer wrote on altright.com.

Spencer is joined by his event booker Cameron Padgett, Eli Mosley, who recently stepped down as head of Identity Evropa, Evan McLaren and other white nationalists in running the group.

“It's time to take what this movement has learned over the past year to the next level of professionalism and collaboration. Together to Victory!” Mosley, whose real name is Elliot Kline, tweeted on Saturday.

Governor
Andrew Cuomo today announced the availability of $26 million of for the
Affordable Home Ownership Development Program. Grants can be used to
make improvements to existing owner-occupied single or multi-family
homes, condominiums, or cooperatives; acquire and rehabilitate
owner-occupied homes for sale, including single and multi-family homes,
condominiums, or cooperatives; and construct new owner-occupied homes
for sale, including single and multi-family homes, condominiums, or
cooperatives including dilapidated and manufactured homes."This
administration is committed to helping more New Yorkers realize the
American Dream of homeownership," Governor Cuomo said. "With this
program, we are investing in the future of New York's communities,
helping to secure a safer, fairer Empire State for all."The
Affordable Home Ownership Development Program provides up to $40,000 per
home to eligible municipalities, municipal housing authorities, and
other not-for-profit and charitable organizations that develop
affordable housing or assist income-eligible homeowners in funding
necessary repairs. Funds are administered by New York State Homes and
Community Renewal's Affordable Housing Corporation, which since 2011 has
awarded nearly $198 million to create or improve more than 10,400
homes.Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne
Visnauskas said, "Governor Cuomo understands that affordable
homeownership lays a foundation for stronger, more viable communities.
These funds will make the dream of homeownership a reality for
hardworking New Yorkers. We encourage organizations and municipalities
throughout New York State to apply for these funds."Senator
Betty Little, Chair of the Senate Committee on Housing, Construction,
and Community Development, said, "Homeownership is key to economically
empowering New Yorkers, while also stimulating the development,
preservation and stabilization of our communities. I was pleased to work
with my colleagues in the Senate to appropriate these important
resources to help promote homeownership for low- and moderate-income
individuals and families."Assemblymember Steven Cymbrowitz,
Chair of the Assembly Committee on Housing, said, "At a time when
looming federal tax changes threaten to cripple the creation and
preservation of affordable housing, it is especially important that New
York State Homes and Community Renewal is making these grants available
so that hardworking families can continue to fulfill the American dream
of homeownership."Applications are due February 16, 2018. More information and the Notice of Funding Availability can be found here. Source: Press Office, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

Today, National Action Network (NAN) leadership responded to the historic 20-year prison sentence handed down for former North Charleston police officer Michael Slager in the shooting death of Walter Scott.

NAN leaders Rev. Nelson B. Rivers III, Vice President of Religious Affairs and External Relations, Elder James Johnson, South Carolina State President of NAN, and Trudy Grant, Manager of Religious Affairs and External Relations, have worked closely with the family of Mr. Scott and their attorneys since April 2014 to ensure justice was brought in this case.

​Slager was sentenced today by US District Judge David Norton in a federal court in Charleston, SC, after four days of testimony, oral arguments and impact statements during the sentencing hearing. Leaders of NAN were at the hearing each day.

​“Today’s sentencing is the longest federal jail sentence ever given for an officer involved shooting in South Carolina, and may well be the longest in the history of the United States of America,” said Rev. Rivers, a native of South Carolina who has worked in civil rights for more than 40 years. “Today’s sentence finally sends a strong message to law enforcement officers in this state and across the nation that you will be held accountable for the killing of innocent people, particularly Black people in South Carolina. South Carolina made history today!”

Rev. Al Sharpton, founder and President of NAN, said, “I am glad to see a measure of justice for the Scott family in this case, and although it doesn’t equal the life that was taken, it is a step in the right direction to how the federal government deals more fairly with police cases. NAN hopes that this case sends a strong signal to law enforcement that they are not above the law. Criminals must be punished when they engage in unlawful acts, whether the criminals are in blue jeans or in blue uniforms.”

​“The Scott family has been fearless and faithful throughout this difficult ordeal,” said Elder Johnson of NAN. “Our local and state NAN chapters have been on the frontlines of this struggle since the day that Michael Slager killed the unarmed Mr. Scott.”

​Trudy Grant, Manager of Religious Affairs and External Relations for NAN and a high school classmate and personal friend of Mr. Scott said, “Walter was such a nice guy, who was funny and quiet, so we were devastated by his killing and outraged by the way the police falsely portrayed our friend after the shooting. But today Walter’s classmates and friends can say, ‘We finally got justice for Walter!’”

​Mrs. Judy Scott, Mr. Scott’s mother, publicly thanked Elder Johnson, Rev. Rivers and NAN for being with the family “since the beginning” of this ordeal.

Something curious was happening with crime in California’s state capital of Sacramento, police have noticed.

In
the last several months, one district in the city of 495,000 recorded a
drop in strong-arm robberies with Asian victims, while another saw an
increase, Detective Eddie Macaulay, a Sacramento Police Department
spokesman, said in a Nov. 13 phone interview.

For the spike in robberies, one thing was clear — people of Asian descent were the target, according to Macaulay.

“We’ve seen this happening and we’ve done quite a bit to combat it,” he said.

CHARLESTON, S.C. — More than two years ago,
the fatal shooting of unarmed black motorist Walter Scott by a white
South Carolina police officer set off a wave of national protests over
racially biased policing and the use of lethal force.

On Thursday, Michael Slager, the ex-North
Charleston patrolman, learned his fate after pleading guilty in Scott's
death: He was sentenced to 20 years behind bars.

His two-decade prison sentence and two years
of supervised release is within the sentencing guidelines for
second-degree murder and obstruction of justice that U.S. District Judge
David Norton said were committed. Slager shot Scott with "malice and
recklessness," Norton said, and then gave false testimony to
investigators.

"Today, we observe
the attack on Pearl Harbor 76 years ago and we honor the memories of
those who made the ultimate sacrifice. The date that lives in infamy
changed the course of our nation's history, and following the attack,
Americans came together as one to fight for our freedom, our democracy
and the values this nation was founded upon.

"Nearly
1.7 million New Yorkers went on to serve in World War II, more than
from any other state in the nation. These courageous service members put
their lives on the line for our country, and their service continues to
deliver freedom that we are grateful for each and every day. On behalf
of all New Yorkers, I thank the service members who answered the call
that day and those who continue to fight for our freedom today." Source: Press Office, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

A grant of $2 million
is available through round three of the Climate Resilient Farming grant
program to help farms reduce their operational impact on the
environment and better prepare for, and recover even stronger after,
severe weather events. Since the launch of the program in 2015, a total
of $2.9 million has been provided to 37 farms across the State to
implement critical projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions,
promote energy savings, mitigate water and soil quality concerns, and
increase on-farm resiliency to climate change."Extreme
storms and severe weather are new normal in New York and across the
nation, and this funding will continue to protect our farms from some of
the unpredictable ramifications of climate change," Governor Cuomo
said. "By reducing greenhouse gas emissions, increasing efficiency to
promote energy savings, and protecting the health of our natural
resources, these projects are valuable additions to New York's efforts
to become cleaner, greener and more sustainable for the next
generation."Through
the Climate Resilient Farming grant program, County Soil and Water
Conservation Districts apply for the competitive grants on behalf of
farmers. The funding will support agricultural projects which aim to
reduce greenhouse gas emissions as well as help agricultural producers
prepare for and better manage impacts of climate change: increased heavy
storm events and periods of drought. Applications must be for one of
the following project categories: agricultural waste storage cover and
methane capture systems, water management systems, and soil health
systems. Funding
will be directed through the 2017-18 Environmental Protection Fund,
which thanks to Governor Cuomo's leadership, is once again funded at a
historic $300 million.The
Request for Proposals for the Climate Resilient Farming grant program
is located on the Department of Agriculture and Markets website under
Funding Opportunities, which can be found here. Proposals are due by
4:30 p.m., February 26, 2018. State
Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, "New York State's
farmers have faced two challenging years—a record drought in 2016 and
this past year, an extraordinary amount of rainfall in the early
summer. The Climate Resilient Farming grant program is helping farmers
better manage what mother nature sends our way, while also increasing
their ability to be even stronger stewards of the environment."Senate
Agriculture Committee Chair Senator Patty Ritchie said, "From drought
to flooding, one of the biggest challenges our state's hardworking
farmers face is the uncertainty of weather. Through this funding,
farmers can receive the vital support they need to not only help them
more easily adapt to weather, but also to continue to be good stewards
of the land that they work. I would like to thank Governor Cuomo and
Commissioner Ball for recognizing how important it is to support our
farmers and in turn, continue to grow New York's leading industry." The
New York Department of Agriculture and Markets administers the Climate
Resilient Farming grant program through its Land and Water Division,
which works to protect New York's land and water resources through
farmland protection, farmland conservation, and proactive environmental
stewardship. Source: Press Office, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

Nearly
$6.5 million in grants have been provided to 55 state-approved
anti-sexual assault crisis and prevention programs operated by
hospitals, non-profit organizations and governmental agencies statewide.
The grants will help fund local crisis hotlines and direct services for
sexual assault victims, such as crisis counseling, advocacy and trauma
therapy, and support prevention and education in schools, on college
campuses and in communities."Sexual assault is a scourge on our
communities and college campuses and with this funding, we offer vital
resources to victims of this heinous crime," Governor Cuomo said. "With
this aid, these critically important organizations will be able to
improve existing services, establish new programs, and better reach New
Yorkers in need of help." The grants will fund a variety of
existing programs, including 24-hour crisis hotlines, crisis counseling,
trauma therapy, referrals to support services for both victims and
their families, training for advocates, court accompaniment for victims
and criminal justice advocacy. In addition, the funding will support
community education, training for advocates and sexual assault forensic
examiners, and prevention efforts in both community and educational
settings, including schools, hospitals and on college campuses. Click here to see a complete list of the funded programs."Two
years ago, Governor Cuomo enacted the toughest policy in the nation to
fight sexual assault on college campuses. Today, we are focusing on
prevention and advocacy, providing funding for programs at hospitals,
non-profit organizations and government agencies, and getting victims
the help they need to recover from this unconscionable crime," said
Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul. "New York has resoundingly said enough
is enough and we are putting our foot down when it comes to sexual
assault."The $6.5 million awarded this week represents funding
from three state agencies: a total of $2.8 million from the Office of
Victim Services; $2.7 million from the Division of Criminal Justice
Services; and $1 million from the state Department of Health. The
Division of Criminal Justice Services will administer the one-year
grants. To be eligible for funding, programs were required to be
approved by the state Department of Health.Office of Victim
Services Director Elizabeth Cronin said, "Sexual assault is a crime that
leaves its victims both physically and psychologically wounded. These
programs serve as pillars of support for rape and sexual assault victims
as they embark on their road to recovery. By providing additional
resources to these state-approved programs, our hope is that they will
be able to help even more victims as they recover from their ordeal."The
grants continue Governor Cuomo's commitment to combating sexual
violence. In 2015, he signed into law the "Enough Is Enough"
legislation, which aims to put an end to sexual assault and domestic
violence on college and university campuses. Among other provisions, the
law provided another $4.5 million in funding for rape crisis programs
across the state.The Division of Criminal Justice Services
has a variety of responsibilities, including law enforcement training;
collection and analysis of statewide crime data; maintenance of criminal
history information and fingerprint files; administrative oversight of
the state's DNA databank in partnership with the New York State Police;
funding and oversight of probation and community correction programs;
administration of federal and state criminal justice funds; support of
criminal justice-related agencies across the state; and administration
of the state's Sex Offender Registry.The Office of Victim Services
helps individuals and/or their family members who have been victimized
through no fault of their own and have no other means of assistance. It
is a payer of last resort: all other sources of assistance, such as
medical insurance and workers' compensation, must be exhausted before
the agency can pay a victim or their family members for any
out-of-pocket losses related to the crime. The cost of forensic rape
exams, however, is the exception to that payer of last resort
requirement. For more information, click here or call 1-800-247-8035. Source: Press Office, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

What You Should Know By State Senator Rev. Rubén Díaz
32nd Senatorial District

You should
know that since Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj, has been elected to the seat previously
occupied by Council Member Jimmy Vacca, has created a vacancy and there
is already a brawl brewing about who will occupy his vacant seat in the
New York State Assembly.

It is important
for you to know that Mr. Mark Gjonaj has been representing the 80th Assembly District, which encompasses Allerton, Bedford Park, Morris
Park, Mosholu Parkway, Norwood, Pelham Gardens and Van Nest areas in the
Bronx.

These are
multi-cultural neighborhoods. Its residents are honest, responsible
and hard working African Americans, Hispanics, Whites, Albanians, Bangladeshi,
as well as others who love this country. I know this because I formerly
represented them as their New York State Senator. I’m very familiar
with these neighborhoods and its residents.

You should
know that when Mark Gjonaj leaves for the City Council, a special election
will be held to fill the vacancy. Rumor has it that there are two
women interested in filling the position in the Assembly.

One
of them is Nathalia Fernandez. Ms. Fernandez is well known in the
district and in the Assembly because she has worked as Mark Gjonaj’s Chief
of Staff. Ms. Fernandez is well qualified educated, experienced,
and well versed in the needs, problems, and the expectations of the residents
of the district. As a result some say that Ms. Fernandez is the
right person to replace Mark Gjonaj in the Assembly due to her vast knowledge
and experience within the district.

But surprise,
surprise, the other woman who is interested in the position is none other
than Lorraine Cortez Vazquez, presently the President of the National
Puerto Rican Parade, who just this year she brought shame and disgrace
to the parade when she made the controversial decision to honor Mr. Oscar
Lopez Rivera, as a “Hero of Liberty”, “Heroe De La Libertad”
which resulted in disunity within the Puerto Rican Community.

You should
know that Oscar Lopez Rivera, according to Wikipedia is known to many as
a “terrorist”. He is one of the leaders of the clandestine paramilitary
organization “The Fuerzas Armadas De Liberacion Nacional Puertorriquena”
known as the terrorist group the “F.A.L.N.”. This organization
is devoted to the independence of Puerto Rico and they carried out more
than 120 bomb attacks on the United States between 1974 and 1983 which
resulted in the killing of six (6) people.

On August
11, 1981 Mr. Lopez was found guilty of “Seditious Conspiracy”,
use of force to commit robbery, interstate transportation of
firearms and ammunitions to aid in the commission of a felony. He was released from prison and Ms. Lorraine Cortez Vazquez hails him
as a Hero of Liberty.

Her association
and close friendship with Oscar Lopez Rivera will not sit well with the
district she hopes to represent. Already many are commenting on their
apprehension of having Lorraine Cortez-Vazquez as the person to fill Mark
Gjonaj’s vacant seat. Others are saying that the honest, hardworking
residents of the 80th Assembly district will not cast a vote
for Ms. Vazquez.

As you can
see my dear readers, two well prepared, well educated women will be competing
to fill the vacancy for the 80th Assembly district. This
will be a very interesting and very divided contest, as was this years
the National Puerto Rican Day Parade….. thanks to Oscar Lopez Rivera,
and the actions taken by Ms. Lorraine Cortez Vazquez. This is Senator
Ruben Diaz and this what you should know.

Council Member Jumaane D. Williams presented former NFL quarterback
and civil rights activist Colin Kaepernick with a New York City Council
proclamation honoring him for his “commitment to protesting the systemic
oppression of and police brutality toward people of color.”

Williams presented Kaepernick with the proclamation Tuesday at a gala
hosted by The Nation Institute where he was awarded the 2017/Puffin
Nation Prize for Creative Citizenship.

The NAACP New York State Conference Wednesday announced it will
launch a social media campaign to promote the election of the first
African American Speaker of the New York City Council in history.

“We have a chance to make history in New York City and we should not
pass it up,” Hazel Dukes, President of the NAACP NY Conference said.
“The city's top leadership inside City Hall must reflect the diversity
of New York. There are highly qualified African American candidates, so
our message is clear: New York must not pass over an African American.
Not Again. Not this time.”

Over the years, you’ve come to rely on the reporting of BKLYNER, and
so many of the neighborhood news sites we published before it – Ditmas
Park Corner, Sheepshead Bites, Bensonhurst Bean, Park Slope Stoop, South
Slope News, KensingtonBK, Sunset Park Voice, Fort Greene Focus.

No one covers Brooklyn with the same tenacity and integrity as our small but devoted staff. We’ve won awards,
and more important — we’ve gotten results, from new laws to new
crosswalks. We’ve exposed a secret oil spill, cast light on a police
commander’s brutal record, and advocated every day for Brooklyn’s
communities.

But in 2017, local independent media sources like ours are in real
trouble. Revenue from advertising and classifieds that once fueled local
news is now being lost to Facebook, Google, and other global internet
giants. We cut our costs deeply last year, but it wasn’t enough.

Local newspapers are dying, and local news sites are shuttering every
week. Just last month, Gothamist and DNAinfo called it quits. I must be frank in telling you that BKLYNER may not be far behind.
We cannot make ends meet under our current advertising-based business
model. Like hundreds of other news outlets around the country, we’ve
found it impossible to sustain a robust news organization on local ad
sales alone.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer broke with two of his Democratic
colleagues by advising President Donald Trump to declare Jerusalem the
capital of Israel, a declaration that is likely to accompany the
relocation of the U.S. embassy.

Schumer told
The Weekly Standard Tuesday that he recommended Trump declare Jerusalem
the “undivided” capital of Israel. Trump is expected to recognize
Jerusalem as the capital Wednesday, and will likely announce that he’s
directed the State Department to begin the years-long process of
relocating the embassy to the city.

The recommendation is in keeping with Schumer’s October statement on the issue.

While the increase in reporting of overflows is
evidence that the Act is working, significant underreporting of overflow
events continues to exist. The data indicates more work is needed to
help municipalities fully comply with the Act
and more funding is needed for municipalities to address aging
infrastructure. For example: 32 percent of all reported overflows did not include the spill volume; since 2013, Chemung County has reported only 1 sewage overflow; and western New York continues to have the highest rate of reported overflows (besides NYC), which highlights their success at reporting.

Liz Moran, water and natural resources director at
Environmental Advocates of New York said, “Every time there are heavy
rains, New York’s most precious resource, its waterways, get hit with
sewage overflows. Our new analysis shows that
New Yorker’s are starting to get a clearer picture of the state of
their water thanks to much improved sewage overflow reporting.
Unfortunately, that picture shows billions of gallons of raw sewage
plague our waterways. Until we see a sustained, annual investment
of at least $800 million to fix our pipes, rampant sewage overflows
that threaten public health and quality of life will only continue.”

Elizabeth Bourguet,
coauthor and clean water fellow at Environmental Advocates of New York
said, “The intent of the Sewage Pollution Right to Know Law is to ensure
the public knows what is going into their water
– the cost of not knowing could greatly impact their health. More than
one-third of the reports listed a discharged volume of zero gallons,
which means the state and members of the public are in the dark about
the extent of the pollution in their water during
overflow events. The DEC must ensure that these communities submit
reports that contain the actual volume of the discharge, as not doing so
might constitute a violation of law.”

The Sewage Action Plan for 2018

Provide additional staff funding for DEC.
Municipalities and wastewater operators need a properly funded DEC so
they have the support necessary to comply with sewage reporting and can
address the root of the problem.

Increase funding for water infrastructure grants.
The SFY2018-19 Budget should include at least $800 million annually for
the WIIA program. Additional funding will enable greater reach to
communities with high water infrastructure
needs.

Provide financial support for communities to
monitor sewage discharges. In addition to the funding needed to repair
old infrastructure, DEC must ensure communities have the resources they
need to accurately monitor, and report
the volume, of sewage discharges.

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IN MEMORIAM

This site is dedicated to the legacy and life of the incomparable Les Payne, who stated the following: "From The G-Man is very impressive in concept, design and execution." Mr. Payne was a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, co-founder of the National Association of Black Journalists, and the former assistant managing editor of Newsday (Click on photo)

NYPD IS STILL CONDUCTING WARRANT SEARCHES DURING MEDICAL DISTRESS CALLS

NATIONAL COUNCIL ON DISABILITY WARNS THE PUBLIC OF THE RISKS OF GUARDIANSHIP

Click on the image to access the report.

U.S. Army Issues Statement on 'From The G-Man' News Report

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IRELAND DURING THE 1940s AND 50s

This moving coming-of-age narrative transports the reader to a quiet way of life, lost and gone forever. Betrayal, tragedy and perseverance lay in store for John Joe Baxter, growing up in Ireland during the 1940s and 50s. Click on the image to learn more.

I invite you to order a personal reading or a copy of my book 'Numbers And You' Now!

Appearing on national TV shows, such as “Oprah Winfrey”, “Geraldo”, Regis Philbin and Kathy Lee”, “The Montel Williams Show” and “Tony Brown’s Journal”, etc., along with countless radio appearances across the country, LLoyd Strayhorn has always left the audience mesmerized. His refreshing and warm delivery to the subject of astro/numerology is upbeat, positive, sincere and amazingly on target. His popular best seller, “Numbers and You”, a Ballantine Publication, is sold in bookstores around the globe. Click the image to purchase your copy or request a personal reading today!

DONATIONS WELCOMED

If you have a PayPal account, please click on "Buster" if you would like to make a donation. This site's PayPal account is listed under FromTheGMan@gmail.com or Gary Glennell Toms. Thank you.

ENDORSEMENTS

"I know 'The G-Man' behind the mic and before the mic. He's in control, focused and informed. Being interviewed by him is truly a learning adventure about our profession as journalists and what drives us to tell people the story. In terms of this site and 'The G-Man Interviews', I'd say 'ground-breaking' sums it up." - Tom Osborne, former producer for "ABC's World News Tonight...with Peter Jennings", "20/20" and host/producer of "US-UN Report". (Click on photo.)

GOP LEADER & MILITARY VETERAN

"I have been interviewed numerous times by 'The G-Man'. Each interview was very enjoyable on my behalf because he gives you the opportunity to fully express your philosophical beliefs whether he agrees or disagrees. I was honored in the past to do many interviews and I'd be honored to do more in the future. He is very thorough and conscientious." - Michael R. Long, Chairman, New York State Conservative Party and U.S. Marine Corps veteran (Click on photo.)

National Health Care Expert

"As a physician with a specialty in public health and a lengthy publication list in health promotion/disease prevention, as well as the operation of the US 'health care delivery system,' I vehemently support and endorse 'From The G-Man' and 'The G-Man Interviews' for their investigative work in this arena." - Stephen Jonas, M.D., M.P.H., M.S., M.A. (Click on photo.)

Hit YouTube Series (Sister Site)

Click on the image to view hard-hitting and powerful episodes of the critically acclaimed news and information series. All episodes were conceived, directed, edited, produced and written by "The G-Man".

About Me

Gary Glennell Toms - Creator and Managing Editor of this site and "The G-Man Interviews" ---
Former associate editor, reporter and columnist for "The Wave of Long Island" ---
Broke stories that were later picked up by "The New York Times", "The Daily News" and "Newsday", among others. ---
Has received numerous awards for journalism and community service.

AD PLACEMENT & GREAT RATES!!

Do you have an upcoming album, book or special event that you'd like to promote? Email FromTheGMan@gmail.com for quotes. Rates are extremely reasonable. NOTE: The commentaries, features, interview segments and news stories presented on "From The G-Man" do not necessarily reflect the views and/or opinions of its advertisers or other individuals that are showcased.

JOIN THE FIGHT AGAINST LUNG CANCER

"From The G-Man" proudly supports the foundation's mission to spread awareness and provide assist to those afflicted with the disease. Click on the image for more information on the organization and to find out how you can help.

EDITOR'S NOTE

From The G-Man does not endorse political candidates. Moreover, it is an independent source of news and information that strives to present all political and social viewpoints while adhering to the best standards and practices of true journalism.

HAVE A NEWS TIP?

Send it to FromTheGMan@gmail.com. You must include your name and contact information. However, your personal information will not be made public or given to any agency, individual or organization if you wish to conceal your identity. From The G-Man is willing to protect its sources and will do so under the provisions granted under the First Amendment.

SEEKING 'HEROES OF AMERICA'

If you've served or are currently serving in the military, "From The G-Man" would like to honor you in a special profile. Just email FromTheGMan@gmail.com and briefly share details about your record of service. Be sure to include your military photo as well. Thank you.

REPORTERS ROUNDTABLE, 2002

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AWARDED FOR EXCELLENCE

"From The G-Man" has been honored by the New York State Senate for excellence in the areas of journalism, new media and community service. (Click to enlarge.)

"It is my honor, as a duly elected member of the NYS Senate, to recognize this outstanding citizen, one who is worthy of the esteem of the community and the great state of New York." - Senator Joseph Addabbo, Jr.